Skanderbeg

Skanderbeg, born Gjergj Kastrioti, was an Albanian nobleman and military leader who lived from 1405 to 1468. He is widely regarded as a national hero in Albania and is celebrated for his resistance against the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg's early life was spent as a hostage in the Ottoman court, where he received military training and converted to Islam, taking the name Skander. He served as an Ottoman commander for several years.

However, in 1443, during a battle against Hungary, Skanderbeg defected from the Ottoman army. He returned to his ancestral lands in Albania, renounced Islam, and reconverted to Christianity. He then rallied the Albanian princes and formed the League of Lezhë, a military alliance aimed at resisting Ottoman expansion. Under Skanderbeg's leadership, the Albanian forces achieved remarkable victories against much larger Ottoman armies, employing effective guerrilla tactics and strategic maneuvers.

His most significant achievements include defending Krujë, his family's fortress, on multiple occasions. Skanderbeg's prolonged and successful resistance significantly disrupted Ottoman campaigns in the Balkans for over two decades. His military prowess and unwavering determination earned him the respect of both his allies and his enemies. Following his death in 1468, the organized resistance faltered, and the Ottomans eventually conquered Albania. Skanderbeg's legacy endures as a symbol of Albanian independence and heroic struggle.